Moscow and Washington have made these kinds of exchange deals in the past. In December of 2022, WBNA player Brittney Griner was swapped for Viktor Bout, a Russian arms trader.
Trevor Reed, a former U.S. Marine, was released from a Russian prison on April 27, 2022, as part of a high-stakes prisoner swap between the United States and Russia. Reed had been detained in Russia since August 2019 and was sentenced to nine years in prison in 2020 on charges of endangering the “life and health” of Russian police officers after a night of heavy drinking.
The prisoner exchange involved the U.S. releasing Konstantin Yaroshenko, a Russian pilot who was serving a 20-year sentence in the United States for drug trafficking. The swap took place in Turkey and marked a significant diplomatic effort amidst heightened tensions between the two nations, especially against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
A massive prisoner swap involving the US and Russia was underway Thursday; details not publicly disclosed, did not specify who is included in the deal. Americans considered by the U.S. to be wrongfully detained in Russia include Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich and… pic.twitter.com/TjM9vdXM4U
— T🇺🇸B (@ShineCo2012) August 1, 2024
Reed’s release came after extensive negotiations, which included direct appeals and advocacy from his family and high-level discussions between U.S. and Russian officials. President Joe Biden highlighted the complex decisions involved in securing Reed’s freedom and emphasized the administration’s commitment to bringing home Americans wrongfully detained abroad. The administration continues to work on securing the release of other Americans held in Russia, including Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich.
Reed’s case drew significant attention and support from both public and political figures, leading to a coordinated effort that ultimately resulted in his return to the United States after nearly three years in Russian detention.
This is a developing story. Please keep checking back with SOFREP for additional details. Due to the fluid and unpredictable nature of these events, we will not report that these fellow Americans have been repatriated until we are certain they are boots on the ground back home in the USA.
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